‘I was gobsmacked’: Glenelg woman denied service at Colley Hotel for having face tattoos

A Glenelg local was left gobsmacked after being denied entry at a popular seaside pub over the weekend for tattoos she got to cope with a medical condition.

A woman has expressed her frustration after being turned away from a popular seaside eatery for having facial tattoos over the weekend.

Glenelg local Kerrie Ashby was out with a friend at the Colley Hotel, which has a policy against facial tattoos, when she was refused service on Sunday night.

“I asked for the menu, the girls looked at us a bit funny and next thing the manager has popped up,” she said.

“I thought he was going to tell me the kitchen was about to close and he tells me, the owners have a policy of no facial tattoos allowed.

“I said that’s disgusting, I’ve lived in this community for years, I’ve eaten here before, I was gobsmacked and I just left.”

Kerrie Ashby was denied service because of her face tattoos. Picture: Facebook

She was denied service at the Colley Hotel. Picture: Ben Clark

The 63-year-old, who suffers from alopecia has a mandala tattooed on her forehead and sea creatures on her neck, said that she had been unfairly “stereotyped” for having facial tattoos.

“I was losing hair so I thought to conquer it, I’m going to get tattoos,” she said.

“I didn’t like the bald look and my hairline was receding so I got my forehead tattooed (...) I’m an ocean person, I swim every morning in summer in Glenelg so (the neck tattoo) is just about me.

“Its just ridiculous, so many people have facial tattoos these days but they’re not affiliated with any gangs, any drug behaviour and what bothers me is the fact that they’ve put me into a stereotypical group (of violent people) which I don’t belong in.

“Do they ban people with tattooed brows, eyeliner or lip liner too?”

Ms Ashby started getting tattoos on her 60th birthday to conquer her alopecia. Picture: Facebook

She says she was unfairly stereotyped. Picture: Facebook

Formerly the Jetty Bar, the Jetty Road venue upholds a “clean, tidy and respectful” dress code.

No “intimidating, aggressive, or offensive” tattoos or clothing are permitted with facial tattoos banned entirely, according to their website

However those with facial tattoos are allowed if they cover their ink with exceptions made to people whose tattoos hold cultural or religious significance, a spokesman for the venue said.

“We totally respect personal expression, tattoos – a lot of our staff have tattoos – and we embrace body art, especially body art that reflects cultural significance, individuality,” he said. “We just ask that neck, face tattoos be covered along with anything that may be aggressive or explicit in the same way that some people might have colourful language on their knuckles.

“So our policy is in place to ensure that all of our guests, community members and families feel safe.”

The Colley Hotel in Glenelg SA. Pictured on June 14 2024. Picture: Ben Clark

He said each situation was treated on a case-by-case basis by staff and that they had received an “overwhelmingly positive” and co-operative response to their policy.

He also extended an invitation for Ms Ashby to meet with staff to find a resolution.

Under South Australian laws, businesses are entitled to setting a “reasonable” dress code for customers, including different standards of dress in different parts of the premise, or at different times of the day.

To avoid discrimination, the same standards need to apply to everyone unless it is reasonable in the circumstance, such as for health and safety reasons.

Reality TV star Jaden Laing has cultural tattoos on his upper body and neck. Photo: TikTok

Laing (right) was refused entry in Burleigh Pavilion despite covering his cultural tattoos with a turtleneck. Photo: TikTok

Debate about whether facial tattoo policies should still exist was sparked earlier this year after reality star Jaden Laing, who has prominent tribal tattoos on his neck, was denied entry at a controversial Gold Coast pub.

Mr Laing tried to dodge the Burleigh Pavilion at Burleigh Heads pub’s policy of denying entry to people with “intimidating, aggressive, or offensive tattoos” – even if they’re not visible.

A video posted to TikTok by Mr Laing shows him being refused entry despite covering his tattoos with a turtleneck, drawing criticism from users.

“I don’t understand. The tattoos are covered, shouldn’t be an issue,” one said.

Another commented: “It’s 2024! What’s wrong with a neck tattoo?” with another adding, “No idea how venues get away with this still”.

The pub previously made headlines last year after turning away a mother whose upper back and lower neck tattoos represent “family, love and happiness.”